Have A Growing Scar On Your Skin? How To Deal With Keloids
If you have a scar on your skin that has raised considerably and become lumpy or ridged, you may have developed an irregular tissue formation called a keloid. Keloids can form around acne scars, ear piercings, chickenpox scars, surgical incision sites, and so on. Keloids are mainly a cosmetic concern, but they can be itchy or tender if clothing or other forms of friction chafe the skin.
Read on to learn more about keloids and how a dermatologist can treat them.
Why Do People Get Keloids?
Anyone can get a keloid, but some people are just more prone to their development. For instance, people of Asian or Latino descent are more prone to keloids than other ethnicities.
Keloids are caused by excess protein (collagen) production as your skin heals. This protein causes thick tissue to grow up and around the injured site, sometimes making your scar bigger than the original injury.
Keloids do eventually stop growing, but they don't go away once they're formed. Thankfully, a dermatologist can help you remove them; and, once they are removed, they usually don't come back.
How Can a Dermatologist Help?
A dermatologist can recommend different treatments for your keloids. There are lots of different treatments for keloids depending on the location of the keloid, your doctor's preference, your preferences, etc. Here are a few treatments to consider:
Surgery
During surgery, your dermatologist will remove the raised tissue and then place a pressure dressing over the surgical site. The pressure dressing reduces blood flow to the area, which can prevent the keloid from returning. Surgery is great for larger keloids and for people whose keloids keep returning after other treatments.
Cryotherapy
If your keloid is still small but is very hard, your dermatologist may recommend cryotherapy. During this treatment, the keloid is frozen from the inside out, and it will shrink. Cryotherapy can be a great option if you want to avoid surgery and save the skin beneath the keloid from further trauma.
Corticosteroids
If your keloid isn't very big and you don't want to undergo surgery, corticosteroid injections may be a good option. These injections can shrink the keloid, but the results aren't always permanent. After a few years, you may need more injections if the keloid has grown.
Laser Treatments
Laser treatments can reduce the height of keloids and improve scar discolorations. Laser treatments are usually used in conjunction with injections or surgical options.
Surgical Threads
Surgical threads are a good option for people whose keloids are more spherical in nature instead of long and ridge-like. For these types of keloids, a dermatologist may be able to tie a ligature around the base of the keloid. This tread will gradually cut into the keloid and cut off the blood supply. Eventually, the keloid will fall off.
Reach out to a dermatologist for more information on these types of treatments and how to treat your growing scar tissue.
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